Local municipalities work to purchase electricity through CCA Program

The Village of Newark Valley, Town and Village of Owego, and the Village of Spencer, along with other municipalities in the region, are offering fixed price electricity to their residents and small businesses through a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Program (Program). The Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA) brought together 21 municipalities to join in the bulk purchasing through the CCA Program, providing eligible participants with renewable energy options.

CCA Programs focus on the source and price of the electric supply while relying on the local utility for delivery service and physical infrastructure. Through a competitive procurement process, MEGA awarded the supply contract to Constellation, an Exelon company, which has more than a decade of experience serving CCA programs.

The CCA will offer residents of the Village of Newark Valley, Town of Owego, and the Village of Spencer a fully fixed price of $0.05092/kWh for 24 months, starting in July 2019. 

The CCA will offer residents of the Village of Owego 100 percent renewable electricity at a fully fixed price of $0.05420/kWh for 24 months, starting in July 2019.  

Those who are automatically eligible to participate in the CCA Program will receive a letter in mid-May. Upon receipt of this letter, those who do not wish to participate in the Program can opt-out via mail, phone or online. Participants are also able to leave the Program at any time during the 24 months without a penalty. 

Customers in the Program can opt-up to receive 100 percent renewable electricity or opt-down into the standard grid mix. In addition, residents and small businesses that have a supplier other than the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) can participate in the Program by opting-in. The CCA is compatible with budget billing, community solar and rooftop solar. Customers with day/night or time-of-use rates will not be automatically included in the Program.

Education sessions will be offered across the region during the months of April and May. The following sessions have been scheduled and are open to all interested residents: April 11, 6-8 p.m., Village of Spencer, Village Hall, 41 N. Main Street Spencer; April 23, 6-8 p.m., Town of Owego, Middle School, 3 Sheldon Guile Blvd., Owego; April 24, 6-8 p.m., Town of Owego, Apalachin Elementary School, 405 Pennsylvania Ave., Apalachin; April 30, 6-8 p.m., Village of Owego, DPW Facility, 20 Elm St., Owego; and May 8, 6-8 p.m.: Newark Valley, Village Hall, 9 Park St. Newark Valley.

Evening sessions are two hours with presentations at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. More information can also be found online at www.megacca.org and questions can be directed to (518) 533-5399 or by email to megaCCAteam@energynext.com.

The Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance, Inc. (MEGA), is a not-for-profit local development corporation based in Upstate New York, with two decades of successful energy aggregation programs for municipal facilities in more than 300 local jurisdictions. Constellation serves approximately 1.4 million residential customers with more than 500,000 served through Community Choice Aggregation Programs.